No Time Like the Present to Update Your Media List

​You know the old adage about the cobbler’s kids? I can relate. My career is centered on working with clients to create or improve communication with their audience, whether via media coverage, e-commerce, newsletters, their social media platforms or digital content. And yet, I haven’t made my communication on this platform, nor my website’s blog, since officially launching Andrea McHugh Media last year. The great news is I’ve been too busy working to do so, but no time like the present to revisit career goals.

I set out to dedicate these two digital spaces to offer helpful tips and tricks, new tools and resources, industry trends and other nuggets to learn from, be inspired by, or bookmark for future use. I’ve created an editorial calendar with monthly posts, so if you’re following, thank you; and if you like what you see, please share.

So, in this first post of 2022, I want to challenge you to update your media list. No time like the start of a new year to perform a quick audit because I can guarantee you’ll find new or outdated contacts, reporters and writers who have changed publications or beats, and new talent as well.

Next, edit your list. When it comes to your media list, it’s the quality of your contacts, not the quantity, that matters. Remember, the quickest way to get on a publication’s bad side is to send your press release to everyone in the newsroom. Media is stretched thin as it is, doing more than ever. Irrelevant emails are a time suck. Only send your release or story idea to writers who cover your industry or genre. In other words, the food critic has no interest in your new commercial development, unless it’s food-related, and the education reporter isn’t interested in covering health care trends. When in doubt, send your release to the general email box (usually the news@..., newsdesk@..., or info@...) as those mailboxes are typically checked regularly. (You can CC a general mailbox if you have a specific contact’s name, just in case.) Lastly, be sure to keep your release or story idea informative but concise, and be sure to mention if you have images or b-roll. 

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